Heading to Martha's Vineyard

At the ferry dock in Falmouth, RI
Want your boat from the rack...sure...and here it comes, delivered by forklift.

Looking out toward the ocean & Martha's Vineyard...

Just a few boats...

And a few more...

And a yacht - didn't seem that sizeable until I compared it with the "little" man on the deck...

So peaceful...

Leaving Falmouth...heading out on our short (approx.30 min) ferry ride across the ocean...

On the ferry...(don't worry, it really wasn't tipped)!

Kari & her parentals, enjoying the smooth ride...it was a perfect fall day & calm waters.

A sailboat we were racing...

Coming into the dock at Oak Bluffs on Martha's Vineyard...

The dock @ Oak Bluffs...

At the dock.

Now, doesn't that look inviting? Made me wish I could go for a swim!

Mansion Tours - Newport Beach, RI

"The Elms" Mansion
We only toured the grounds of this one, but it was truly incredible!
The garden & grounds were by far the most superior of all of the mansions we toured.
Every tree, branch, flower & fountain were perfectly maintained...

You could practically picture the nobles & ladies walking in the gardens...

"Rosehill" Mansion

As viewed from the ocean side...

We walked around the back corner of this one to hear Lori holler that she had been "mooned"...then we noticed the statue!

The rose garden was impressive!

And these vines...all roses...

Amazing! I haven't been able to keep even one rose bush alive!

The beautiful frontside of Rosehill - the front doors, windows, gardens and fountain were so picturesque.

Peering thru a black & gold fence at another mansion - "Marble House" - I think...

And this was the "playhouse" for the Vanderbuilt's daughter on the grounds at "The Breakers" Mansion...see next post!

Makes your Dad look kinda cheap huh Miss Alyssa, Eva & Hannah? ha!

Can you imagine?

I certainly didn't grow up with one of those either, but I have a better imagination for it!

The Breakers - Newport Beach, RI

You've arrived at the gates of "The Breakers"...
This was where the Vanderbuilt Family called home for 2 months every summer...

It boasts quite a view of the ocean...

And over the wall is the Cliff Walk past the mansions...

No small fence or lack of greenery either...

I loved the colour of the leaves highlighted by the sunshine...

During our tour...this was the upper balcony...

I tried to capture this to show the detail in the painted ceiling, the walls and the tiny tiled very intricately patterned floor...

Complete with their old "lawn chairs"...sure to protect you from the sun's harmful rays and possibly some unwanted stares!

This picture also shows a bit more of the detail in the floor of the upper balcony.

Somehow I managed a photo of the Great Room from the upper hall...

And this cozy bedroom over the front entrance of the mansion...

And the servants' kitchen...it was huge & sunny...

The family shipped their best china from NYC to The Breakers each summer - I guess the other three sets at the mansion didn't suffice?!

Looking at Mrs Vanderbuilt's oval bedroom up on the second floor with the massive music room below...

Some of the gardens which would have been visible from her window...

Out on the back terrace...

The ocean side view of the mansion...

NYC view - via water taxi

Southport...heading down to the pier to catch the ...
Water taxi - well worth the time - and the best part...we had free tickets.

Brooklyn Bridge (foreground), Manhattan Bridge (background)

Jersey City, NJ

More of Jersey City...

The Twin Towers used to stand behind the tallest two buildings...and were twice as tall.

Looking north up the channel of water between Jersey City & NYC...

Looking towards Manhattan - always a helicopter or two visible somewhere over Manhattan

Manhattan

Ellis Island

Manhattan (left) and Brooklyn (right)

Miss Liberty!!

She is huge!

The specks on the ground near the water...those are people...just to try and give you a little perspective of her size.

Manhattan again with Battery Park in the foreground.

More the Manhattan waters edge, looking towards M & B bridges.

And again...

Brooklyn Bridge

There were many pics of this bridge from 9/11 as many NYers ran for their lives across this bridge to Brooklyn! The towers used to stand a short distance off to the left in this picture.

Brooklyn Bridge & water patrol

Brooklyn Bridge looking back toward Manhattan

Manhattan Bridge which we went across to check out Brooklyn.

Looking at Brooklyn and the Manhattan Bridge.